Ghost Road Blues: The Pine Deep Trilogy, Book 1

The cozy little town of Pine Deep buried the horrors of its past a long time ago. Thirty years have gone by since the darkness descended and the Black Harvest began, a time when a serial killer sheared a bloody swath through the quiet Pennsylvania village. The evil that once coursed through Pine Deep has been replaced by cheerful tourists getting ready to enjoy the country’s largest Halloween celebration in what is now called “The Spookiest Town in America.”

I really enjoyed this book. For me, it's MUCH better than the Joe Ledger novels. It reminded me of the best aspects of Stephen King and the narrator, while a bit annoying at first, really isn't that bad. I'm looking forward to the next 2 installments.

The Girl with All the Gifts

Melanie is a very special girl. Dr Caldwell calls her "our little genius". Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite, but they don't laugh. Melanie loves school. She loves learning about spelling and sums and the world outside the classroom and the children's cells. She tells her favorite teacher all the things she'll do when she grows up. Melanie doesn't know why this makes Miss Justineau look sad.

The Outsorcerer's Apprentice

A happy workforce is a productive workforce. At the moment, the Wizard's employees are neither. The goblins are upset with their working conditions, the dragonslayer has thrown a hissy fit over his medical insurance (or lack thereof) and everyone is upset about the terrible canteen coffee. Yet the Wizard hasn't got time to worry about revolution in the workplace - he's about to see his brilliant business plan (based on entrepreneurial flair and involving one or two parallel worlds) disrupted by a clueless young man.

Although not noted as such, this is really part of the series that began with Doughnut. However, reading Doughnut and When It's a Jar is not really necessary to the plot of this story (which is somewhat of a spin-off rather than a sequel). In many ways I enjoyed this book more than the previous 2 books. It wasn't as bogged down by the scientific theories and explanations that necessarily governed Doughnut.

If you are already a fan, you will not be disappointed. If not, I would recommend starting with Doughnut.

The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

After a long and eventful life, Allan Karlsson ends up in a nursing home, believing it to be his last stop. The only problem is that he's still in good health, and in one day, he turns 100. A big celebration is in the works, but Allan really isn't interested (and he'd like a bit more control over his vodka consumption). So he decides to escape. He climbs out the window in his slippers and embarks on a hilarious and entirely unexpected journey, involving, among other surprises, a suitcase stuffed with cash.

I selected this book on a whim and am so glad that I did. Wonderful writing & narration. A cast of characters that are unique and endearing. A main character who has a nearly magical ability to sail through life and befriend nearly everyone. I had a smile on my face the entire story and laughed out loud more than once. Simply delightful!

The Dirty Streets of Heaven: Bobby Dollar, Book 1

Bobby Dollar is an angel - a real one. He knows a lot about sin, and not just in his professional capacity as an advocate for souls caught between Heaven and Hell. Bobby’s wrestling with a few deadly sins of his own - pride, anger, even lust. But his problems aren’t all his fault. Bobby can’t entirely trust his heavenly superiors, and he’s not too sure about any of his fellow earthbound angels either, especially the new kid that Heaven has dropped into their midst, a trainee angel who asks too many questions.

Interesting story, well written. Dislike the narrator, especially when he tries to do accents. There ought to be a rule that if the narrator can't pull off an accent he isn't allowed to do them. Characters can be differentiated without resorting to bad Scottish, Australian and Hispanic accents, especially when the characters are angels and have no country of origin. If bad accents don't bother you, give it a try. If they do, read the physical version.

Fated: Alex Verus Series, Book 1

Alex Verus is part of a world hidden in plain sight, running a magic shop in London. And while Alex's own powers aren't as showy as some mages, he does have the advantage of foreseeing the possible future-allowing him to pull off operations that have a million-to-one-chance of success. But when Alex is approached by multiple factions to crack open a relic from a long-ago mage war, he knows that whatever's inside must be beyond powerful.

Wonderful first book of a new series. Reminiscent of Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden, but with a uniquely British twist. Wonderful narration (although the actor sounds a little too old for the main character). Highly recommended.

Too Many Curses

The wizard Margle the Horrendous takes special pride in never killing his enemies. Instead, he transforms them into various accursed forms and locks them away in his castle. It's Nessy's duty to tend this castle. Its a lot of work, but she manages, taking pride in housekeeping talents that keep the castle from collapsing into chaos. But when Margle suddenly dies, everything begins to unravel.

This is a cute story. I would classify it as Young Adult. The narrator is ok, but her characterizations are a bit cartoonish, which doesn't help with the juvenile feel of the story. Might be more fun to read than to listen to. Not Martinez's best work.

Wool: Silo, #1; Wool, #1-5

In a ruined and toxic landscape, a community exists in a giant silo underground, hundreds of stories deep. There, men and women live in a society full of regulations they believe are meant to protect them. Sheriff Holston, who has unwaveringly upheld the silo’s rules for years, unexpectedly breaks the greatest taboo of all: He asks to go outside.

Very well written, dystopian future story. The narrator nearly ruins it though. When she is reading in her own voice she is fine, but her character voices are nasal & cartoonish. Very glad that the remainder of the series has a different narrator. If you think you can stand the annoying voices, give it a go. If not, get the print edition.

Speaks the Nightbird

The Carolinas, 1699: The citizens of Fount Royal believe a witch has cursed their town with inexplicable tragedies -- and they demand that beautiful widow Rachel Howarth be tried and executed for witchcraft. Presiding over the trial is traveling magistrate Issac Woodward, aided by his astute young clerk, Matthew Corbett. Believing in Rachel's innocence, Matthew will soon confront the true evil at work in Fount Royal....

Looking at the length of this audiobook you will probably not be surprised that the story is slow paced. At times I was totally frustrated by the actions of the protagonist, but I'm glad I stuck it out. Overall it was a good story, with well defined characters. The narration was very well done and the writing was technically good. I will give the 2nd book a go.

Death, the Devil, and the Goldfish

From the Bahamas to Heathrow airport, to the rain soaked streets of London the dead have ceased dying. This is inconvenient for a number of reasons but what's the real reason behind the chaos? In London we find Nigel Reinhardt, a disgraced, confused, and gifted London police constable who owns a prophetic goldfish. In Ireland the Angel of Death questions the value and position of his current employment. At Majestic Technologies Celina McMannis works diligently on a top secret project.

In the vein of Tom Holt and A. Lee Martinez, this was a very fun story that was nearly ruined by poor narration. Mr. Cross rushed through most of the story so quickly that many of the jokes were lost and his character voices were awful. I very much want to get the book so that I can really enjoy the work the author put into the story.

The Summer Man

He's Here. Amanda Young doesn’t know who…or how…or why. She only knows that evil has come to Port Isley, the picturesque seaside village she calls home. It arrives on the wings of summer, in the guise of a sinister, nameless man crowded among the tourists from Seattle. He’s there when Amanda has a premonition of a classmate’s murder and when the girl’s mutilated body is discovered hours later. He’s lurking nearby when the neighbors she’s known forever inexplicably begin to…change. There — when their suddenly raging emotions transform them into lustful, violent shadows of themselves. Only a select few see the dark signs: Amanda, the town psychiatrist, and the local newspaper publisher. Together, they set out to discover exactly what’s happening in Port Isley — and whether or not anyone has a prayer of getting out of the town alive.

Very disappointed in this one. For a story that is predominately talk and thoughts, there is very little character development. There is little suspense and absolutely no "horror" to this story. Sadly, it's not even interesting from a psychological viewpoint, although it is desperately trying to be that.

The premise is basically what happens to a small town when all inhibitions have gone. Lots of talk about sex, obsessions, and murder but very little actual action. We are led to believe from the title that there is a sinister force behind it all but "the summer man" is absent from 99% of the story. Teenage and middle age angst abounds.

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